At the United Nations, Mia Mottley emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the lives of the majority over the interests of a minority.
The Prime Minister of Barbados referred to the Sustainable Development Goals as a commitment to development and the recognition of human worth. They raised concerns about whether global efforts since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda eight years ago will be enough to achieve the 17 targets related to poverty, gender equality, the environment, and other issues.
She inquired if it would be too late to rescue as many people as possible from the consequences of climate change, too late to protect as many as we can from the destruction of war, and too late to provide the necessary food for many.
The same facts
Ms. Mottley recognized that world leaders have achieved some progress, but emphasized that there is still a lot of work to be done by 2030. She noted that as of last year, 735 million people were experiencing chronic hunger and that this number is expected to increase by 2030 compared to 2015.
In addition, moving forward requires us to have shared goals. It is crucial for our democracy to have a common understanding of facts, but unfortunately, we exist in a society where false information is constantly spread. This has led to people making decisions based on these unreliable sources, without taking the time to verify their validity.
She advocated for the establishment of a regulatory system that aligns with the guidelines set by the Secretary-General. She emphasized that while artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact on our society, it should be used for positive rather than negative purposes.
Expensive fuel costs
Due to significant reductions in oil production from Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as severe flooding in Libya, the price of crude oil has skyrocketed. This quarter’s increase is expected to be the largest since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Ms. Mottley states that the rising costs of oil and gas in Venezuela can be attributed to a lack of transparency, resulting in the people of the Caribbean being heavily impacted.
Ms. Mottley inquired about the disparity between Chevron and the European Union’s ability to obtain oil and gas from Venezuela, while the people of the Caribbean are unable to access it at the discounted rate of 35 percent offered by Venezuela.
“The idea of constantly bearing an extra 4% burden in my country is inconceivable,” she stated, due to the unequal application of rules.
Corporate Taxes
The Barbados Prime Minister addressed the issue of corporate tax, stating that world leaders do not handle it fairly.
She stated that we are capable of moving quickly under certain conditions and for certain individuals, but we often move at a slower pace when it affects billions of people and their ability to make a living.
The leader of the Caribbean stated that we cannot prioritize the interests of a small group over the well-being of the majority.
Climate action
According to Ms. Mottley, the battle against climate change is still ongoing and should be taken just as seriously as the conflicts in Ukraine and Africa.
She stated that our goal is to continue fighting to protect both people and the planet. She believes that making changes is crucial at this time, and the actions of each nation to tackle this global problem are what truly counts.
Ms. Mottley cited a quote by Nelson Mandela and stated that having a vision without taking action is only a dream, while taking action without a vision is simply wasting time. However, when a vision is accompanied by action, it has the power to change the world. The most effective leaders not only develop their own vision, but also motivate others to take action towards it.
Source: news.un.org
